COMMUNITIES, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA 5 MARCH 2015 AT 1PM IN COMMITTEE ROOM 1, CIVIC OFFICES, 53 HEREFORD STREET Committee: Councillor Andrew Turner (Chairperson) Councillors Glenn Livingstone (Deputy Chairperson), Jimmy Chen, Jamie Gough, Yani Johanson, Ali Jones, Paul Lonsdale and Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck Principal Adviser Principal Adviser Committee Adviser Mary Richardson Jane Parfitt Barbara Strang Telephone: 941-6790 Telephone: 941-6798 Telephone: 941-5216 PART A - MATTERS REQUIRING A COUNCIL DECISION PART B - REPORTS FOR INFORMATION PART C - DELEGATED DECISIONS INDEX ITEM DESCRIPTION PAGE NO. NO. PART C 18. RESOLUTION TO BE PASSED - SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS 203 PART A 19. REPORT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WORKING 204 GROUP COMMUNITIES, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 5. 3. 2015 - 203 - 18. RESOLUTION TO BE PASSED - SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS Approval is sought to submit the following reports to the meeting of the Communities, Housing and Economic Development Committee on 5 March 2015: Report of the Chairperson of the International Relations Working Group The reason, in terms of section 46(vii) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, why the reports were not included on the main agenda is that they were not available at the time the agenda was prepared. It is appropriate that the Subcommittee receive the reports at the current meeting. RECOMMENDATION That the reports be received and considered at the meeting of the Communities, Housing and Economic Development Committee on 5 March 2015. COMMUNITIES, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 5. 3. 2015 - 204 - 19. REPORT OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WORKING GROUP Contact Contact Details Executive Leadership Team Mary Richardson N Member responsible: Civic and International Relations Duncan Sandeman N Manager Author: Barbara Strang Y 9415216 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform the Communities, Housing and Economic Development Committee of the proposed agreements to be signed between Christchurch and Chinese cities/provinces and that the Committee recommend that the Council authorise the Mayor to sign the agreements. 1.2 In the International Relations Working Group’s terms of reference, their purpose and functions include considering issues related to providing a point of engagement for the Council with the international community in relation to all international relation matters, and oversight of sister city programme The Working Group was established in 2014 by the Christchurch City Council and membership consists of four representatives from Christchurch international trade, sister city, education and employment sectors and five Christchurch City Councillors. 2. COMMENT At it’s meeting on 27 February 2015, the International Relations Working Group considered a report in relation to plans for cooperation agreements with Chinese cities, outlined below. Gansu The Christchurch – Gansu relationship celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2014. The relationship is one of a Sister City and is managed on a day to day basis by Civic and International Relations at a civic level and the Christchurch China Sister City Committee at the people to people level. Our relationship with Gansu is strong and very active. In accordance with the 2013 International Relations Policy it is proposed that the Mayor and the Governor of Gansu will sign an agreement reaffirming our Sister City relationship when the Mayor is in Gansu in March. A copy of the agreement is attached (Attachment 1). Sichuan Currently Civic and International Relations and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government are undergoing negotiations to establish a strategic relationship and draft a cooperation agreement which may be signed by the Mayor and the Governor/Vice-Governor of Sichuan. At this time we are not in a position to have an agreement to sign during the Mayor’s visit to Sichuan, however it is intended that the Mayor’s visit will help establish the conditions for forming the relationship and lay the groundwork for a cooperation agreement to be signed later in the year. This agreement would be the subject of a separate report to the Council for consideration. Shenzhen The opportunity has arisen for Christchurch to establish a cooperative relationship with Shenzhen. The proposed agreement with Shenzhen is attached (Attachment 2). The agreement follows the intent of both the 2013 International Relations Policy and the Activity Management Plan with the intention to enter into a strategic relationship with Shenzhen. The agreement is non binding and sets out for the two cities to: conduct economic and social exchanges and cooperation; pursue exchanges between leaders and agencies towards future cooperation on maters of common concern; COMMUNITIES, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 5. 3. 2015 - 205 - 19. Cont’d invite each other to attend important events; and guide and encourage companies and business agencies to further pragmatic cooperation. A legal opinion from Anderson Lloyd regarding the proposed cooperation agreement is attached. (Attachment 3). In this opinion they recommend that the full Council consider resolving to approve the Mayor authority to sign the cooperation agreement with Shenzhen. 3. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The financial implications of this agreement will be met within the current budget. 4. CHAIRPERSON’S RECOMMENDATION At it’s meeting on 27 February 2015 the International Relations Working Group agreed to recommend that the Communities, Housing and Economic Development Committee recommend that the Council: 4.1 Note that the Mayor and the Governor of Gansu will sign an agreement reaffirming our Sister City relationship when the Mayor is in Gansu in March 2015. 4.2 Note the intention to develop a cooperative relationship with Sichuan at the same time as Shenzhen. 4.3 Resolve that the Mayor be authorised to sign the agreement the intention to enter into a strategic relationship with Shenzhen and note the intention behind the agreement. ATTACHMENT 1 TO CLAUSE 19 Memorandum of Understanding Renewal between Gansu Province of the People’s Republic of China and the City of Christchurch of New Zealand 1. PREAMBLE At the invitation of Gansu Provincial People’s Government, Her Worship the Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, led a delegation to Gansu in March 2015. During this visit, Mayor Dalziel attended the Gansu-Christchurch 30th anniversary celebration activities in Lanzhou City and met with Mr. Liu Weiping, the Governor of Gansu Province. 2. INTENT Taking into account the existing agreements between China and New Zealand, including the Free Trade Agreement (2008) and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2014), together with the already strong relations between Gansu Province and Christchurch, Governor Liu and Mayor Dalziel agreed to renew the existing Memorandum of Understanding (insert date) as follows: a. both sides agree to continue ongoing relations in economic and social cooperation, specifically supporting those initiatives that have already begun as well as additional relationships with a high potential for positive outcomes on both sides; b. both sides remain committed to current personnel training initiatives, with an intent to continue these exchanges from both sides wherever possible; c. both sides agree to maintain regular high-level exchange of visits, and to encourage all walks of life to take part in sister-city activities so as to promote mutual understanding and friendship; d. both sides will continue to support the unremitting efforts made by citizens of the Christchurch-China Sister Cities Committee and the New Zealand China Friendship Society for deepening the friendly cooperation between Gansu and Christchurch; e. both sides reaffirm the sister-city relationship between the Province and the City and will continue to promote friendship, cooperation and common prosperity. This Memorandum of Understanding is written in Chinese and English with both copies of each being treated as equal. This Memorandum of Understanding will take effect upon its signing in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province on March 23, 2015. For the Province of Gansu For the City of Christchurch People’s Republic of China New Zealand Gansu Provincial People’s Government Christchurch City Council Governor Liu Weiping Hon. Lianne Dalziel Governor of Gansu Province Mayor of Christchurch ATTACHMENT 2 TO CLAUSE 19 COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SHENZHEN OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND 1. PREAMBLE In November 2014, Mr. XU Qin, Mayor of Shenzhen, and a delegation from the Shenzhen Municipal Government paid a friendly visit to Christchurch. In April 2015, Her Worship Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, led a Christchurch Municipal Government delegation to visit Shenzhen. On both occasions, both Mayor XU Qin and Mayor Dalziel exchanged ideas in terms of promoting city-to-city exchanges and cooperation at their meetings. 2. INTENT Taking into account the existing agreements between China and New Zealand, including the Free Trade Agreement (2008) and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2014), to enhance city-to-city exchanges and cooperation, and to deepen the understanding and friendship between the citizens, both Shenzhen and Christchurch (hereinafter referred to as “both sides”) agree on signing this Cooperation Agreement. The intentions for further cooperation